Daniel glanced toward the rain-speckled pickup outside. "You made a promise in front of the whole room. I'd appreciate it if you honored it. But I won't have someone film you being humiliated. That's exactly the thing we're supposed to be ending."
Brent Whitaker lowered his phone fully. "I'll stop recording," he offered.
"I mean it." Vanessa looked at him with a mixture of humiliation and gratitude.
"Thank you," she said. Daniel turned back to her.
"After that, report to Maria for your revised duties. You'll help with a review of customer complaints and learn the service standards from the beginning. Whether you remain in management will depend on the review, your performance, and Maria's assessment once she has the authority to make it."
Vanessa nodded. "I understand."
For the first time, the words sounded like something she had actually considered rather than something she said to end a conversation. She walked toward the side door and paused before pushing it open.
"Mr. Brooks?" she called back.
"I didn't think you were worth a cup of coffee. I don't know how to make that right." Daniel answered gently, "Start by offering the next person one."
Brent was the last of the original mockers to approach. He held his phone loosely at his side and looked deeply uncomfortable without it positioned between him and whoever was speaking.
"Daniel, I made a complete fool of myself. I kept filming because I thought it was funny, and I didn't stop when I realized you weren't enjoying it."
He hesitated. "The video is everywhere now. I can't unmake that."
"No," Daniel agreed. "You can't." Brent swallowed.
"What would you have me do? Delete it? Tell everyone the whole thing was a joke?"
Daniel shook his head.
"Don't rewrite it. People saw what you did. Post an apology on the same channel, acknowledge that you were wrong, and leave the original record intact so no one can pretend it never happened."
"I can do that." Brent looked toward Maria.
"I'd also like to donate something to help families buy reliable cars. Not as a way to make you stop being angry, but because I've been sitting here laughing at people who are trying to get to work and get their kids to school."
Daniel studied him.
"If you mean it, Margaret can help you set up a proper contribution. But a check alone won't prove you're different. People will look at how you behave the next time there isn't a billionaire in front of your camera."
Brent nodded slowly. "That's fair." He glanced at his follower count and, for the first time, turned the screen facedown.
The number had seemed like a measure of his own importance an hour earlier. Now it felt more like a count of witnesses to a version of himself he had never wanted to examine.
Victor emerged from his office carrying a small box of personal belongings. He had called his attorney again and arranged for an orderly transition rather than an immediate scene. Daniel approached him near the entrance.